Page 53 of Enough

Her feistiness just further turned him on. “Next time,” he winked, although he had no intention of letting her pay for anything.

Leaving Barney’s, they returned to Claudia’s suite briefly so she could leave the bags inside. Jaden made sure to stand outside while she went in which confused Claudia further, but her unspoken questions were never raised.

They left the Palazzo hotel, and Claudia was silent the entire ride.

“Everything alright?” Jaden asked.

Claudia gave him a small smile. “Sure.”

Jaden wasn’t convinced. “You can talk to me, about anything.”

Claudia shifted in her seat. “I could go on and on about whatever, so I’m sure you don’t mean that.”

“Then you’re mistaken.”

They held each other with their gazes. The mixed signals were becoming frustrating for her. Claudia decided to mess with him.

“Last week I had a hang nail that about made me scream, my big toe hurt so bad I ran to the nail salon to have it fixed. You should’ve seen it!”

Jaden threw his head back and roared a contagious laugh that made Claudia laugh in return. When his mirth whined down, a lazy grin replaced it. “I hardly doubt you had a hang nail.”

“No?”

“Nice try but that was a good story.”

Claudia stuck her tongue out and crossed her eyes, and another deep laugh escaped him. Witnessing her sense of humor was a breath of fresh air. Most of the women he’d dated were poised but haughty. They came from wealthy families, so the need to be self-made didn’t interest them. It was endless. But Claudia was so refreshingly different he could see them together for all time. Thoughts of her loving and caring nature invaded his mind. With her being the youngest sister, Claudia had stepped up to take care of her mother when it was most needed, and ever since he’d known her, Jaden hadn’t heard Claudia complain once.

Her business savvy was an extreme turn on for him and being a beautiful, seductress was an A plus. But what could he offer her? Money and luxury? Those things were great, but Jaden wanted to give her the whole shebang. The emotional support that came with loving and caring for a person. The mental and trustworthy stability that came with being in a monogamous relationship. The physical ability to make her body crave him in her sleep. Jaden was confident he could have that last part down, but what about everything else?

Was he ready, truly?

“Where are we headed?” Claudia asked interrupting his thoughts.

“To grab something to eat. Are you hungry?”

Not for food, Claudia thought but said, “A little.”

Jaden reached over and touched her face. “Then we’ll get something to fill your little appetite.”

He had no idea that her appetite was anything but little. However, it involved him and the king size mattress back at her hotel room, but since he seemed to be playing hard to get, she’d leave him be, for now.

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